Veneer jointer



April 12, 1932. A DENNls 1,853,554

VENEER JOINTER Filed July 29, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l luoenior Qlfre fivemiz'a YER @Filotnens April 12, 1932. A. A. DENNIS VENEER JOINTER Z SheetS-Sheet 2 Filed July 29, 1929 5 l a a W w w. a 7 9 d 0 4 3 a i. w 4 l m I] 5 l Z w 0 W I w 7 9 9d W M 8 6 .v 3 4 m 4 .M 1 8 I mfiu E 3 4 w w .o 0 9 4 l 4 2 0 m W 1 5 7% 2 8 7 I 00 m MM w m 1 a a a Patented Apr. 12, 1932 UNITED STATES ALFRED A. DENNIS, OE GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN VENEER JOINTEB Application filed July 29, 1929. Serial No. 381,819.

This invention relates to a jointer, being particularly useful in veneer jointing though not limited in any sense to use upon veneers alone.

It is common in veneer jointers to clamp a plurality of veneers located one over the other upon the bed of a machine, and to move the bed and rotary cutters located at one side of the bed relative to each other, whereby the cutters joint the adjacent edges of the veneers and cuts them to a proper finish. It is necessary in such jointing machines to have two cutters located side by side, one of which sets in somewhat closer to the edges of the veneer which are to be jointed than the other, and the cutter which is farther away from the veneers makes the initial out while that closer to the Veneers makes the finishing cut. Such machines are capable of use on relative movement of the veneersand cutters in one direction only and in a machine in which the bed carries the veneers past the cutters it is necessary to return the bed to its original position before performing additional jointing operations.

It is a primary object and purpose of the present invention to provide mechanism for jointing veneers or the like, in which the relative movement of the cutters and veneers may be had in both directions and the jointing operation performed in both of said directions of movement, there being an automatic change of position of the cutters, shifting the same so that in one direction of movement one cutter is set in farther than the other toward the veneers, and on the opposite direction of movement this position of the cutters is reversed.

The invention consists of many novel combinations and arrangements of parts for practically and effectively attaining the'object stated, as Well as many others, all of which will be apparent upon an understanding of the invention had from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a veneer jointermachine constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a pla view he eof.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged transverse section through the machine adjacent the left hand end of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal section and plan, the section being taken through the housing for the cutters and, I

Fig. 6 is a somewhat similar section through the cutter housing, and at the rear through a lower portion of the machine.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the difi'erent figures of the drawings.

In the preferred construction of the machine, a fiat horizontal bed 1 is provided, supported by depending end supports 2, on which the veneers ,3 are to be located one over the other when jointed at one edge. The veneers are clamped'to thebed by a clamping bar t which is forced downwardly by spaced apart cams v5 pivotally mounted between the end of upwardly extending posts 6 secured to the bed.' The cams 5 are provided with upwardly extending arms 7 which are connected at their upper ends by a link bar8 wherebythe cams may be operated simultaneously.

The edges of the block of veneers are properly located through a gauge construction which consists of a horizontally disposed channel bar 9 located above and slightly to one side of an edge of the bed, through which a plurality of spaced apart vertical rods 10 freely pass. These rods 10 normally occu y a lower position to which they drop by gravity until stopped by the cross pins 1011 which pass through said rods coming against the upper flange of the channel 9. The channel bar 9 is supported at its ends by brackets 11, adjustably mounted adjacent the ends of the bed 1', being adjusted in or out by means of adjusting screws 12, which pass through threaded sleeves 13 fixed to the upper side of the bed, as best shown in Fig. 2. The edges of the veneers .WhlChfiIG 'to be jointed come against the gauge pins 10; and of course, the depth that the cut to be made is dependant upon the adjustment given to this gauge construction through the adjusting screws 12.

Below the table 1 and at the same side of the machine as the gauge just described, a

also passing around a second sprocket wheel 22 (see Fig. 1) which is connected with a beveled gear or pinion 23 so that the wheel 22 and gear 23 are in effect integral.

An electric motor 24 is mounted on a suitable bracket 25, as shown in Fig. 1, and its shaft carries a sprocket wheel 26 with a sprocket chain 27 around it which also passes around another sprocket wheel. 28, spaced, from which is a second beveled gear or pinion 29, the two beveled gears 23 and 29 both being in mesh with a horizontally disposed beveled gear 30. The wheel 28 is fixed to one end of shaft 31 on which the beveled pinions 29 and 23 and the sprocket wheel 22 are loosely mounted.v 'The adjacent faces of the pinions 2.9 and 23 are formed with clutch elements between which is a two faced clutch member '32 splined on the shaft. 31.

It is evident that with the clutch member 32 connected with the beveled pinion 23, as shown in Fig. 1, there is a direct drive from the motor 24 through shaft 31 to the sprocket wheel 22. But when the clutch 32 is moved -to engage with the pinion 29, the drive is from the pinion 27 to pinion 3O tothe pinion 23 and thence to the sprocket wheel 22, and that the direction of rotation to the sprocket wheel 22 is reversed from its rotation when the parts are in a position shown in Fig. 1. Shifter rod 33 is mounted horizontally above the clutch member 32 in supporting brackets 34 which extend from the endsupports 2 of the bed of the machine. An arm 35 fixed to the rod 33 connects the same operatively with the clutch member 32. One end of the rod 33 is connected with a hand lever 36 mounted for pivotal movement between its ends on one end of the machine, whereby the clutch 32 may be normally shifted to engage with either of pinions 23 or 29 or located in neutral position between them.

The carriage plate 14 at its upper and lower ends has outwardly extending arms 37 ans. 37a between which a vertically positioned motor carrying plate 38 is pivotally mounted at 39 to turn about a vertical axis. It has a limited pivotal movement which may be adj usted by means of adjusting screws 40 which pass through the ends of the plate 38 and extend toward the carriage plate 14 abutting alternately thereagainst- Two electric motors 41 and 42 are secured to the plate 38 one alongside the other with their shafts extending vertically, to the upper ends of which cutters 43 and 44 respectively, are secured and located so as to come against the edges of the veneers 3 which have been clamped upon the table 1.

The lower arm 37a of the carriage has a projecting lug 45 and the shifting rod 33 is provided with two spaced apart collars 46 (see Fig.1). The collars are located in the path of movement of the lug 45 and it is evident that when the carriage is moved by the rod 18 in one direction, the lug will eventually engage one of the collars thereby shifting the rod 33, disconnecting the clutch 22 :outlet neck 48 for passage of the cuttings,

shavings and the like cut from the veneers 3. Over the top of the housing at its inner side a bar 49 is permanently secured which has downwardly bent inclined end portions 50 which come underneath the ends of the gauge rods 10 asthe motors move lengthwise of the bed lifting the gauge rods out of the way as indicated in. Fig. '1.

The outlet neck; 48 to the housing 47 extends through a vertically positioned endless belt 51 which is disposed around idle pulleys 52 mounted between upper and lower plates 54- and 55 which extend the full length of the belt and cover the space between the inner and outer sides thereof, the lower plate tached to and extending from the ends 2 of the machine and by posts 57 (Fig. 4) located underneath the ends ofthe lower plate 54. The upper plate 55 has an outlet opening 56 therein through which the shavings, cuttings, dust and the like may be drawn away in the usual manner by a suction blower. V

other pulley 60 and then extending toward the other arm 53. A coiled tension spring 63 is fastened to the other end of the cable 62 and to an adjusting screw 64 which threads through said bracket 53 whereby the tension on the cable 62 may be varied and adjusted. In the operation of the machine, the motor carriage with the motors 41 and 42 and their associated cutters moves lengthwise of the '54 being supported by bracket arms 53 atbed 1 of the machine. When moving. from the right hand end of the machine toward the left, (referring to Fig. 1) the cutter 43 is ahead of the cutter 44, as in Fig. 5, and takes an initial cut from the edges of the veneers .3 while the cutter 44,.being farther in toward the veneers takes an additional and finishing cut therefrom. When the cuttershave passed by the veneers, the veneers may be unclamped from the bed of the machine and another block of veneers placed therein and clamped. The movement of the carriage 14 will continue until the shifting rod 33 is actuated to reverse the direction of rotation of the screw 18, said shifting occurring when the lug 45 engages a. collar-46 on the shifting rod. The motors41 and 42 and their cutters will then start backa'long the side of the table. As soon as such return movement is started the motors, cutters and cutter housings will be turned about the axis of the pivots 39 due to the action of the cable 62 on the pulleys 60 and 61 whereby the cutter 44, which was the follower in the first described movement of the cutters becomes the leader .and is farther out from the edges of the veneers than the other cutter 43 which in this movement of the motor carriage becomes the follower of the cutter 44. In other words there is an automatic shifting of the position of the cutters as soon as the reversal of the movement of the motor carriage occurs.

The belt .51 being -mounted on the idle pulley .52 moves freely with the cutter housing 47 and it with the upper and lower plates 54 and 55 forms an enclosure which receives the shavings, and cuttings of the jointing operation. When the machine is to he stopped in its operation the hand lever 36 may be operated to move the clutch 32 to a neutral position between the beveled pinions 23 and 29.

The construction described is very practical and serviceable with operations \on veusers or other lumber products performed in both directions of relative movement of a table which carries. the material worked upon and the cutters which operate upon the material. The preferred construction has been shown and described with the table stationary and the cutters movable, but a reversal so as to have the table movable and the cutters relatively stationary is comprehended by my invention. It. is .to be further understood that the particular type of cutting tool used has no essential significance in any invention .but the term, cutter, as used herein, is to cover any suitable wood cutting tool such as saws or thelike and not be re- .stricted to cutters of planeror angular types.

WVith this invention the roughing out upon the work is designed to always out with the grain of the wood and any desired-depth of cutcan be made without sliveringof ortearing out, from the stock while the finishing-cut is of a slight depth, to of an. inch and cuts against the grain. I x

The ;construction shown and described wherein the tableis stationary and the cut: ters movable, is preferred asthere is ccnsid? .erable economy in space overla machine hav in-ga movable table or bed, as the will requirea necessary space for projection of .the bed at each end at its extreme of move; ment which is not necessary where the table is stationary .andthe cutters movable... The invention is defined in the appended claims and is to be considered comprehensive of all forms of structure coming within their scope- I claim r H 1. Inla machine of'the class described a table on whichveneers .or. the like are adapted to be located, two spaced apart cutt rs I tatable about vertical axes located adjacent one edge of the table'for cut ing the edg s Of said Veneers, means for moving the table and cutters relative to each other, and means for .mounting the cutters'for a limited turning movement about a vertical axis, whereby in one direction of relative, movement of th 3 table .andcutters one of the cutters will be located inwardly toward the edge of the able farther than the other, and in the opposite direction of relative movement, the other of said cutters is located inwardly nearer the edge of the table than the first mentioned cutter; j

2. A construction containing the elements in combination defined in claim 1, combined with-means for automatically reversing the .c relative.:movement of the table an lk-eu -t r with respect to each 0ther,at predetermined spaced apart distances, and means for automaticallychanging the position of the cutters at the times of said reversals of relative.

movement of the :table and cutters.

3. In a machine of the elassdescri-bed,

stationary table on which material to be cut may be clamped, two motor driven cutter mounted for movement lengthwise of and at an edge of the table to cutthe edgesof said material, means 'for moving said cutters lengthwise of the table, means for reversing said cutter moving means adjacent each end of the table, means for mounting saidcutters 12;;-

means adjacent each end of the table,- a.motor carryingplatcimountedon said carriage for ILC - riage lengthwise: of the table. 8. In a machine of the class limited turning movements about a vert cal axis, two motors carried by saidplate having their shafts vertical, cutters at the upper ends ofsaid motor shafts positioned to act upon the adjacent edges of material clamped onthe table,one of said cutters in one dlrection of movement of the carriage beinglocated 1nwardly toward said material farther than the other, and means for automatically turn ng said motor carrying plate about said vertical axis to bring the other of said cutters inwardly toward the material to be cut farther than the first cutter.

5. Y A construction containing elements 1n combination defined in claim 4, combined with means adjustably mounted on said motor carrying plate at each side of the pivotal axis about which it turns, said means extending toward the carriage and operating to limit the extent of turning movement of said plate about said vertical axis.

6. In a machine of the class described, a stationary horizontal table, clamping means forclamping a plurality of veneers one over the other onsaid table, a bar located lengthwise of and above thetable near one edge thereof, a plurality of spaced apart pins passing freely through said bar and normally extendingdownwardly ashort distance beyond the adjacent edge ofthe table against which the edges of ven-eersareto' be located, and means for adjusting said bar inwardly and outwardly with respect to-the edge of the table. v

7. YA construction containing the elements in combination defined'in claim 6, combined with a carriage mounted to move lengthwise of and below said edge of the table, two motors mounted on said carriage havmg vertical shafts, cutters at the upper end of the motor shafts, a housing over said cutters, and a bar located over said housing having downwardly inclined end portions adapted to pass underneath the lower ends of said pins and elevate the same on movementof the cardescribed a horizontal table, means mounted thereon for clamping a plurality of veneers one over the other on the table, gauge means located adjacent an edge of the-table against whlch one edge of the veneers are adapted to engage, a carriage mounted below said edge of the table for movements lengthwise thereof, means for moving the carriage lengthwiseof the table, means for automatically reversing said carriage moving means at predetermined points adjacent the ends of the table, spaced apart motors on said carriage having vertical extending shafts and cutters at the upper ends of the shafts to cut the edges of said veneers.

9. A construction'containing the elements in combination defined in claim 8,combined with a vertical plate on said carriage on which said. motors are mounted, means for mounting said'plate to turn about a vertical axis, means for limiting the extent of turning movement of the plate, and means for automatically turning the plate from one positionzto another position and vice-versa upon reversal of the direction of movement of said carriage. V I 7 10. In amachine of the class described, a table on which material to be cut at one edge is adapted to be clamped, a carriage mounted below one edge portion of the table for movements lengthwise thereof, means for moving the carriage lengthwise of the table, means for automatically reversing the carriage moving means adjacent each end of the table, a vertical plate mounted on and at a side of the carriage for turning movements about a verticalaxis, two spaced apart motors carried by said" plate having vertical shafts, cutters at the upper ends of the shafts, a housing for said cutters, abar connected to the under side of said housing extending outwardly, three rollers turning about vertical shafts on the bar two of said rollers being located in alignment and the third roller located back of'and between the other two rollers, arms extending outwardly from each end of the table, and a cable connected at its ends to said arms and passing around said rollers and serving to automatically turn said motor carrying plate about the vertlcal axis on which 1t is mounted on reversal of direction of movement of said carriage.

11. A construction containing the elements and combinations defined in claim 10, combined with adjusting screws passing through the ends of said motor carrying plate and extending toward the carriage to engage thereagainst and limit the extent of turning movement of said motor carrying plate about said vertical axis. j

12. In a machine of the class described, a

table on which work to be operated upon is adapted to be located, two spaced apart cuttingmembers rotatable aboutvertic'al axes located adjacent one edge of the table for acting upon said work, means for moving the table and cutting membersrelatively-to each other, and means for mounting the cutting member for a turning movemnt about a vertical axis separate from the axes about which the cutting members turn, whereby in one direction of relative movement of the table and cutting members one of said members will be located inwardly farther than the other, and in the opposite direction of relative movement the other of said cutting members will be located farther inward than the first men tioned cutting member.

13. In a machine of the class described a table on which veneers or the like are adapted to be located and detachably clamped, two spaced apart cutters rotatable about vertical axes located adjacent one edge of the table for cutting the edges of said veneers, means for moving the table and cutters relative to each other for action of the cutters upon the veneers the entire length thereof, means for mounting the cutters for a limited turning movement about a vertical axis separate from the axes about which the cutters rotate whereby in one direction of relative movement of the table and cutters, one of the cutters will be located inwardly toward the edge of the table farther than the other and in the opposite direction of relative movement, the other of said cutters will be located inwardly nearer the edge of the table than the first mentioned cutter, and means for driving said cutters whereby the cutter located farthest inward cuts with the grain of the veneer and the other cutter cuts against the grain of the veneer.

14. In a machine of the class described, a table on which material to be worked upon may be clamped, two elements mounted for movement relative to the table and adapted to simultaneously operate on the material, means for moving the elements relative to the table, and means for moving the elements into different operative positions relative to the material.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ALFRED A. DENNIS. 

